Publishing Success 140 Characters at a Time

Relax. You don’t have to fill your novel or screenplay with 140 characters to be a successful author! In this instance, “characters” refer to single letters or numerals used in each entry, or “tweet,” on Twitter, the popular the micro-blogging site. So what does tweeting messages only 140 characters long have to do with publishing success?

“Everything,” says Shelley Lieber, The Wordy Woman, who was recently named by Mashable.com as one of “70+ Authors to Follow on Twitter,” along with such best-selling authors as Deepak Chopra, Tony Robbins, Tim Ferris, Suze Orman, Mariel Hemingway and Arianna Huffington.

The Wordy Woman will share her Twitter tips and strategies that she used to gain recognition as one of the top authors in her market in ONLY SIX MONTHS in a free tele-class. This is a don’t-miss event for every writer who wants to get the word out about his or her book!

Free Call*: Twitter Your Way to Publishing Success
When: Wednesday, June 3, 2pm Eastern
(1pm Central, 12pm Mountain, 11am Pacific)
Call-in Details: (641) 715-3300, Access Code 171279#

*The tele-class is free to attend, but long distance charges may apply.

Wordy Woman is on Mashable list of 70+ Authors to Follow on Twitter

Whoohoo! I made the list and what good company I'm in! Check out the whole list.

Getting Published: 5 Things You Can Do Right Now

Use the phrase "self-publishing" or "independent author" and most people think of books. I believe, however, the correct definition of "self-publishing" is someone who publishes his or her own work in any format. 

Publishing yourself is not limited to print books. The definition extends to all mediums: print, digital, video and audio. (Did you know the trendy terms today are: pbook, ebook, abook and vook?) 

 

Here are 5 ways you can start to get your message out to your audience today, if you wish. 

 

1. Blog: The fastest, cheapest way to get online with a blog is to go to Blogger.com or Wordpress.com, sign up for an account, pick a template and start blogging. Yes, it's that easy. Now, cheap and easy are not the best way to go. Self-hosting a blog with your own domain name (rather than yourname.blogspot.com, for example) is preferred, but costs more and takes longer. The good news is that you can always transfer your Blogger or Wordpress blog later when you have the time and money to set it up in your own name.

2. Podcasts: Do you know how many people are listening to their favorite audio programs and books on iPods? Millions.  Record your blog posts, articles and audio programs and publish as podcasts in iTunes App Store. I am not a techie, so I won't begin to try to explain the process, but publishing your podcasts on iTunes is fairly simple, once you get your feed set up. Have someone help you if necessary. Get Apple's instructions on how to do here.

 

3. Digital Books: This is so easy, it's ridiculous not to do it. Do you have a completed manuscript? It could be an article, booklet or full-length book. If so, then you are ready to go digital. Simply creating a PDF from your Word document in the Print function will give you a file you can upload to Payloadz.com and start selling. Or, you can upload your Word document at Smashwords.com and they convert your manuscript to the format for downloading as an ebook to computer, iPhone, Kindle, Sony eReader and a host of other devices. You set your own price and keep most of the profit. Another place to publish digital and audio files is YouPublish.com. Be sure to read the terms of agreement and how you will be paid before you join any service.

 

4. Videos: Did you know YouTube.com is the No. 1 search engine for Generation Y? Yes, they go there before Google when searching for information. You do not need to be Steven Spielberg to shoot a video to upload to YouTube. Most digital cameras have video functions on them and if you don't have one, get a FlipCamera for about $129. You can plug the Flip right into your computer and upload your video. Have someone record you delivering your message (or set the camera up on a tripod and do it yourself). Read from your book, talk about your subject, interview someone else, or anything else you can think of.

 

5. Social Networking: Join any social networking group and you can set up a profile page with your photo, book information, book cover, event photos, and more.The additional benefit to joining and participating in these groups is that you can connect with other people who are interested in your topic, so you can build your audience from Day One. Many of the sites also offer you blog pages, ability to upload video, fan pages and more. The "Big Three" are Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, but there are many more smaller groups that are book industry-specific such as GoodReads,LibraryThing and BookMarketing Network. Costs you nothing and is lots of fun, too! Look me up on all those sites and add me as your friend.

 

So no more excuses about not getting published. Do it today. 

In others' words...(Great quotes from writers)

"What is written without effort is in generally read without pleasure." --Samuel Johnson

"I often have to write a hundred pages or more before there's a paragraph that's alive." --Philip Roth

"If my doctor told me I had only six minutes to live, I wouldn't brood. I'd type a little faster." --Isaac Asimov

"Writing is the only thing that, when I do it, I don't feel I should be doing something else." --Gloria Steinem

"It is worth mentioning, for future reference, that the creative power which bubbles so pleasantly in beginning a new book quiets down after a time, and one goes on more steadily. Doubts creep in. Then one becomes resigned. Determination not to give in, and the sense of an impending shape keep one at it more than anything." --Virginia Woolf

"But words are things, and a small drop of ink,

Falling, like dew, upon a thought, produces

That which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think. "

--Lord Byron

"If you read good books, when you write, good books will come out of you." --Natalie Goldberg

"I think I write much better if I'm flowing. At first it's a bit jagged, awkward, but then there's a point where there's a click and you suddenly become quite fluent. I don't write well when I'm sitting there sweating about every single phrase." --Doris Lessing

"Sometimes I believe these books are already written and my job is simply to allow them to come through me. My job is to get out of my own way so that I can let the process take care of me." --Sue Grafton

"I am a writer who came of a sheltered life. A sheltered life can be a daring life as well. For all serious daring starts from within." --Eudora Welty

"The talent for writing is largely the talent for living, and it is utterly independent of knowledge." --Willa Cather

"What will be best in your writing is what you really do not know now. If you knew it all it would not be creation but dictation." --Gertrude Stein

"It's one thing to have an idea, but it's quite another to trust your idea and follow where it leads. Following your fascinations means taking risks and venturing out from the safe harbor to the open seas." --Gail McMeekin

"What an author likes to write most is his signature on the back of a check." --Brendan Francis

I hope you've enjoyed the words of wisdom from the pens of authors themselves. These are just some of my favorites from the huge collection I've amassed over the years. Please take a moment to post your comments and some of your favorite writer quotes. Also, if you have a print copy of 4Ps to Publishing to Success,

you can read some of my all-time favorites at the section and chapter openers.

Don't Get Ripped Off: How to Make Informed Self-Publishing Decisions

Are you thinking about self-publishing? Find out what you need to know and the questions you should be asking when working with Print on Demand (POD) publishers to avoid rip offs and scams.

Don't miss this informative free tele-class when VIP Authors founder and publishing consultant Shelley Lieber reveals:

• How to pick a POD publisher


• Two questions POD publishers don't want you to ask, and why you MUST know this information

This class can help you save hours of time and thousands of dollars. Here's how to get on the call:

Free Class*: ”Don't Get Ripped Off: How to Make Informed Decisions when Self-Publishing

When: Wednesday, May 6, 2008 at 2 pm ET (1pm CT, 12pm MT, 11am PT)

Call Info: Dial (641) 715-3300. Enter Access Code: 171279#

* The class is free to attend, but long distance charges may apply.

5 Steps You Can Take to Publish Now

Yesterday's teleclass "Books are NOT Dead! 5 Steps You Can Take to Publish Now" ROCKED! Here is just some of the feedback I've gotten already:

"As always, it's a pleasure listening in on your talks about publishing and the writing business." --Joey Naudic

"Really enjoyed the conference call. It was informative, well organized and filled with useful insights."--Jenna Rosen

"I thought the call today was amazing! I'm was extremely inspired and motivated with all the information you shared. It is a strong confirmation that I'm doing the right things at the right time. I'm still in awe!!! I'm trying to calm down inside! This is an exciting time!" --Yolanda Berry

"I appreciated your time today and am seriously considering putting some audio (and maybe even video) on the blog because of what you mentioned. Thanks again!" --Alicia Sample

If you were unable to make yesterday's tele-class about what you can do right now to publish in today's market, here is the audio recording.

5 Steps You Can Take Right Now to Publish

You can also hear the replay by dialing (641) 715-3412, Access Code 171279#.

4Ps 2009: The Indie Authors 4-Step Guide to Publishing Success

Now is the best time in history of publishing to be an author because everything is changing. “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” Get it? There are more opportunities to get published than ever before–if you know what you’re doing. But with all the changes, it’s harder than ever to know what to do.

From where you’re standing, you may not be able to see how you can achieve publishing success. It may seem very far off in a distant future, or perhaps down a road with too many obstacles. It’s not your fault. Today’s publishing industry has been turned upside down and you need a roadmap to navigate all the new twists and turns on the road to publishing success.

4Ps to Publishing Success (print version) was published exactly one year ago. Yet already many new trends in publishing have emerged to change the landscape of the industry and what authors must do in order to succeed. So I'm offering a tele-class to update the information in the book with new strategies to match the new mindsets.

4Ps 2009: The Indie Author’s 4-Step Guide to Publishing Success is your roadmap through the maze of confusion and misinformation surrounding self-publishing and Print on Demand (POD) publishing. This 4-week tele-course will teach you the basic principles necessary for good publishing, inform you with up-to-date information about the changing face of today’s publishing market, and arm you with the knowledge you need to avoid losing money on scams and rip-offs. Read more>>>

Do you know how much it costs to publish a book?

Whatever the image of publishing success looks like to you, it probably doesn't include shelling out thousands of dollars in expenses to get there. Yet, publishing is a business and involves costs. Many authors are unprepared to meet the expenses and become discouraged and even sidetracked when they learn what they need. Or worse, they spend far more than necessary learning the lessons the hard way. Unpleasant surprises can be avoided by having upfront knowledge about the "behind the scenes" services that contribute to publishing success.

The indie author assumes the entire cost, yet even when a publishing house is paying for book production and distribution, an author has to invest in promotion. Many also choose to get  editorial help before submitting their work.

So, what are some of the "costs of doing business" that an author should put in the budget? 

Here's a laundry list of items, some are typical, some are less well known. Not everything will be applicable to your project, but at least you'll be better prepared to make informed decisions. (The  rock-bottom starting price of the cost range is in parens after each item.)

Editorial: Can include help with content editing, manuscript development, copy editing and proofreading. ($300+)

Design: Nothing gives a self-published book away faster than bad cover and interior design. Not all professional books are design winners, either. So it is helpful to know about the elements of conventional layout, including proper organization of content on the title page, copyright page, table of contents, headers and footers, chapter openers. captions, pagination and more. Get familiar with the basics of book design and hire professional help if you're going it alone. ($500+)

Marketing Materials: Good elements of design and copywriting apply to everything related to the book: postcards, bookmarks, business cards. Digital printing make these materials a small, but effective investment. ($100+)

Internet Presence: A blog and/or website is no longer an "option." The earlier an author can establish a following, the better. Once again, good editorial and design help authors present and deliver their messages effectively. In addition, services such as search engine optimization are investments that can pay for themselves and more. ($250+) 

Newsletter: A newsletter is an effective tool for communicating with your audience. Companies that provide list management and design templates for your messages is another small, but necessary investment. ($15+/month)

Shopping Cart: Will you be selling your book on your website? Services such as consulting or seminars? Shopping carts are another expense worth the money. Some systems integrate the cart with list management, newsletter broadcasting, autoresponders as well as digital product delivery. ($30+/month)

Teleconference and Webinar services: These service providers give you the ability to conduct "live" seminars via the phone or computer. Talk to hundreds of people at time from the comfort of your home, any day or time you want. ($0 for limited services; $30+/month for advanced services)

Virtual Assistants: You're probably looking at this list and thinking, "I don't have time for all that." Virtual assistants have the time and training to handle many administrative tasks that free you to do what you do best. ($200+/month)

Promotion: Depending on your time, training and inclination, some of this can be done on your own and with a virtual assistant.  Hiring a publicist is another option. (Costs vary widely, depending on service and whether it's a one-time or ongoing service.)

This is far from a complete list, but it should give you a better idea of what goes into producing a successful book. It takes more than writing a good book; that's simply the first step. The more you know, the better your chances will be for success--that's true in any business. 

What the actual cost of your project will be depends on many factors. The starting range prices given here are very low, and your costs may be quite a bit higher. 

Better to enter this business with your eyes wide open and know how to get quality results than bumble your way through, wasting time, money and possibly sabotaging your own efforts. 

Remember: Writing is a passion. Publishing is a business. Successful (VIP) authors know the difference. Continue your publishing education via books; subscriptions to writers' newsletters and magazines; and attend classes, workshops and seminars.

Want to be part of membership group for authors who are learning how to navigate today's ever-changing publishing industry? For about $10/month or the cost of two grande lattes, you can learn how save thousands of dollars typically spent by uneducated authors. Find out more about VIP Authors Inner Circle>>>

Elizabeth Gilbert on Creative Genius

The Truth About Writers' Block

"What are some of the obstacles you've faced and overcome?" That's the question I like to ask when I interview people who are leaders in their communities, companies or organizations. Although the individual replies vary, the majority of the responses reveal that each person has managed to transform some type of adversity into opportunity.

What I have observed in my own 30-year career is that the opposite is true as well. Unsuccessful people not only let obstacles stop or delay their progress, they actively put barriers in their paths, preventing them from reaching their goals. We all are guilty of this to some degree. After all, it is easier to say we don't have time to write because we work and have children, homes and mates to look after than it is to get up an hour earlier, go to bed an hour later, or work through lunch hour at the office.

It seems to me that each time I make a concerted effort to rein in my concentration and focus on the completion of a goal, the Universe sends something to tempt me away. Just when I decide to spend the next two weeks finishing the final edit on my book, something "urgent "or "important "comes up, and gives me reason to put my personal work on the back burner--again.

Without exception, I have regretted my decision each time I placed my goals on hold "just until this next project is finished." And, each time I placed myself ahead of the distraction, and said "no" to stepping off track, I have been rewarded with an inner sense of satisfaction and accomplishment that comes with following my heart rather than my head (or pocketbook).The decision to pursue my true calling has also led to far greater riches in the long run than any project ever pays in the present.

Knowing what is the right thing to do and actually doing it are two different things. Most of us need some support to help us hold steadfast to our goals. Being part of two writers groups provided the motivation and support I needed to finish my novel. If I didn't have that commitment to produce a chapter a month, I'd probably never have finished my novel at all. Today I have two mastermind groups that keep me accountable to my commitments and focused on my goals.

If you've ever felt the desire to pursue your writing dream, don't let obstacles stop you and, above all, don't construct stumbling blocks to your success. First, start visualizing your book signing or whatever symbolizes the accomplishment of your success as a writer. Then set measurable, attainable goals and, finally, find a support system to keep you going when you're tempted to get off track.

Do you need some guidance to help you through the publishing process as well as support to keep you focused on the goal? The Wordy Woman offers three levels of support to writers. See which one is right for you>>>